🤔 Which job offer should I take?
⚖️ Job Offer Comparison
Comparing job offers on salary alone can be a costly mistake. This calculator helps you compare two job offers by estimating their true total compensation in location-adjusted dollars. See past the headline numbers to discover which offer actually leaves you with more money in your pocket.
💼 Offer A Details
Total compensation is your base salary plus the monetary value of bonuses and benefits. Employer 401(k) matches and health premium subsidies are the biggest hidden drivers of value. Estimate the annual dollar value of these perks to get a true baseline for your current job or first offer.
📈 Offer B Details
Input the details for your competing job offer. Sometimes an impressive $15,000 salary bump is entirely wiped out by a weaker 401(k) match or more expensive health insurance premiums. Add up your expected bonus and benefits to evaluate the true financial weight of this second option.
🗺️ Location Adjustment
A dollar buys a very different standard of living depending on where you live. The MIT Living Wage Calculator is an excellent tool to estimate the cost-of-living gap between two places.
Look up the required living wage for both locations on the MIT Living Wage Calculator. If Offer B's city costs 10% more, enter 10% below. If it is cheaper, enter a negative number.
⚖️ Beyond the Math
This comparison focuses strictly on your current spending power. It plainly simplifies away taxes that differ by state, non-monetary factors, and future raise trajectories.
Remember that a lower-paying offer can still win overall. Better career growth, remote flexibility, a shorter commute, or greater equity upside are often worth a slight dip in take-home pay.
🔗 See Also
For further related reading, check out:
📊 Results
Offer A Value
Offer B Value
Annual Difference
Top Choice
Offer B
Calculator updated by heyfinfam (v26.7.0) · View history
Privacy: None of your data is transmitted to the author of this view or any other third parties. Financial inputs are never used to identify you; they're only used to calculate results.
Disclaimer: This content and any calculations provided are for informational purposes only. The views, calculations, and methodologies expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this platform. Not financial advice. Users are solely responsible for any decisions made based on this information.
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